Key case



March 24, 1959 D. .J. NASH 2,878,851

KEY CASE Filed May 16, 1957 INVENTOR DA'N/EL 1 /\/4 SH v BY KEY CASE Daniel'J. Nash, Jersey City, NJ., assignor to Nash Inc., Jersey City, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 16, 1957, Serial No. 659,584

1 Claim. l. 150-40 "Ihe present invention relates generally to an improved receptacle, and it relates more particularly to an improved key case.

The conventional key case generally includes a base or support'member carrying a plurality' of spaced swingable key loops. These loops are either permanently or detachably mounted on the basemember. The base member is carried on the wall of avreceptacle which normally encloses the keys carried by the loop' membersbu't which permits access thereto on opening of the receptacle. When the key is used the receptacle must normally remain'open. This is highly undesirable and possesses numerous disadvantages. While there are key cases available and proposed which permitthe use of a selected key while the case is in closed position, they are highly unattractive and possess numerous drawbacks.

It 'is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved key case.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved key case which permits the use of a selected key while the case is in closed condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved key case characterized by its attractive appearance, ruggedness and ease of operation.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in open position;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof illustrated in closed position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in open position;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view thereof illustrated in closed position; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved key case comprising a frame including a pair of U-shaped wing members having cross arms and projecting legs, the ends of corresponding legs of said wing members being hinge-connected, and being movable between an open position, and a closed position wherein said wing members are in abutment, a cover member engaging the cross arms and legs of said wing members and defining the walls of said key case, a base member located within said case in proximity to a pair of adjacent leg members, a plurality of key engaging members terminating in shank portions which are swingably connected to said base member, one of said pair of legs having a recess formed in the surface thereof confronting said other leg to permit registry therewith of a key engaging member shank portion when said wings are in closed position. b v I Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the key case comprises a frame including a pair of complementary shaped wing members 10 of U-shaped configuration having cross arms 12 and laterally spaced legs 14 and 15, 3 the ends of legs 14 and 15 of each wing 10 being pivotally connected to the corresponding ends of the legs 14 and 15 of the other wing 10 to form a hinged connection. Spring means, not shown, may be provided normally tourge wings 10 to an open position thereby to expose the interior of the case.

In order to lock wings 10 in the closed position, as!

illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, a latch member 16' is hinged to cross arm 12 of one of wings 10 and is' pro--. vided with a depending wall 18 and is spring urged coun-- terclockwise to a lock position as viewed in Figure I of 'the drawing. A detent 20 is formed in cross arm 12 of opposite Wing 10 and is engaged by latch member 16 whem wings 10 are in closed position. By depressing anend of latch member 16 so as to rotate it clockwise detent, 20

is released and wings 10 may be sprung or otherwise urged to open position.

Cross arms 12 and legs 14 and 15 of wings-10 are of" roughly semi-circular tubular cross section havingan in-1 wardly directed opening 22 formed along the full lengths thereof. A cover panel 24 of substantially rectangular configuration is folded over along a transverse axis and has its peripheral border registering with openings 22 formed in wings 10 and is tightly clinched in position be- I tween the confronting edges of the wing forming member to define the walls of the key case.

A pocket-containing flap member 26 is located within the key case extending longitudinally thereof and has an end edge clinched between the corresponding border of cover 24 and the inner wall of a leg 15. Flap member 26 is shaped of an elongated panel folded inwardly, as at 28, the contiguous side edges being secured to each other by rows of stitches 30 or otherwise to form a pocket within flap 26 for the reception of a drivers license, car registration or other material. Flap 26 as well as cover 24 may be formed of any suitable material, such as leather, plastic, cloth or the like.

Mounted on flap 26 adjacent wing leg 15 and secured thereto by means of grommets 32 is a base member 34 including a base plate 36 through which grommets 32 pass and which abuts flap member 26. Extending from and integrally formed with base plate 36 is a tubular member 38 extending for the width of base plate 36, and provided with a forwardly projecting arm 40 disposed above base plate 36 and terminating in a depending leg 42. A plurality of regularly, longitudinally spaced, transversely extending slots 44 are formed in tubular member 38, terminating at their rear portions in enlarged openings 46. A slidable locking member 48 is located within the tubular member and the space between the confronting faces of the arm 40 and base plate 36. The locking member 48 is provided with a finger piece disposed externally of tubular member 38 to permit manipulation thereof. A plurality of longitudinally spaced openings are formed in locking member 48 and are adapted to be brought into registry with openings 46 formed in tubular member 48 for the purposes which will be hereinafter set forth.

A plurality of key engaging elements 50 are provided, each of which is formed of resilient wire and includes a linear shank 52 extending from a normally closed loop 54 which may be resiliently opened by spreading the legs.

Patented Mar. 24, 9

thereof. The shank 52 terminates in a ball 56, shank 52 engaging a corresponding slot 44 and'ball 56 registering with the interior of the tubular member 38. Thus, the key engaging elements 50v are freely rotatable about the axis of the respective shanks 52 andare swingable about the axis of the tubular member 38'." One or more of the key engaging elements 50"may be disengaged from the tubular member 38 or inserted therein by shiftingthe' locking member 48 to unlock position wherein the openings therein register with the openings 46 formedinthe tubular member 38 and sliding the ball' 56' thereof into thetubular'member 38 through the aligned openings. A key K may beapplied to each of the key engaging elements 50 by spreading the legs of'the loop 54' against" thesbiasing thereof, insertinga leg of the loop through the hole in thekey K and permitting the loop to close.

In order to permit the location of the loop 54 and the carried key K exterior of the key case while the case is in closedposition; a plurality of recesses 58 are-formed in the confronting faces of the wing legs 15 in alignment withthe respective slots 44 formed in the tubular member 38. It'should be noted that the length of the shanks 52' tubular member 38 is formed in the confronting faces of each of the legs-15. Thus, upon the closing of the frame an elongated slot 66' is formed in the closed frame through which a selected key may project. In all other respects the key'case illustrated in Figures through 7 of the drawing is identical with that illustrated in Figures 1 through 4ofth'e dfawing; the same numbers designating identical parts.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

An improved key case: comprising a frame including a pair, of U-shaped wing-,mem b ers having, crossarms and projecting legs, the ends of'corresponding legs of' said wing members being hinge-connected and being movable .betweentan. opempositiomand a closed position wherein said wing,members. are in abutment, a cover member engaging the cross arms andlegs of said wing members and defining the walls of said key case, a base member located Within said case in proximity to a pair of adjacent legmembers,.aplurality of key engaging members terminatinginkshankportions which are swingably connected to said base member, said key engaging members being longitudinallyspaced alongsaid base member,

anda plurality oftreces sesformed in the confronting faces of said pairsof legstodefine openings in alignment with said. key engaging members.

References Citedin the file of'this patent UNITED STATES:PATENTS 439,086

Albright Oct. 28, 1890 1,404,736 Bowen" Jan. 31, 1922 1,920,060 Buxton July 25, 1933 2,270,015 Wright Ian. 13, 1942' 2,612,200 June Sept. 30, 1952 2,631,631 Vogel Mar. 17, 1953" FOREIGN PATENTS 465,850 Canada June 13, 1950 

